On August 30th, for the third straight morning, outraged Santa Cruz County residents gathered at the gates of Wellington Energy in Capitola, successfully blocking what they say is a forced installation of radiating 'smart' meters against the will of residents and nearly two dozen local governments throughout the Greater Bay Area.

Early morning on August 26th, outraged Santa Cruz County residents gathered at the gates of Wellington Energy at 38th and Portola in Capitola to protest what they say is a forced installation of radiating 'smart' meters against the will of residents and nearly two dozen local governments throughout the Greater Bay Area. Despite the fact that the $2.2 billion program is being funded by ratepayers, and the new meters installed on people's homes, there has been virtually no public consultation in advance of what PG&E itself admits is one of the largest rollouts of technology in history.

Protesters assaulted; Sen. Jon Huppenthal compares indigenous people to children with Downs syndrom

[On August 5], about 75 immigrant rights and LGBTQ advocates demonstrated in front of Target, over their connection to Republican candidate for governor Tom Emmer. They condemned Target’s $150,000 contribution to MNForward, which used the money for a television ad urging the election of Emmer who is infamous for his anti-immigrant, anti-gay, and anti-minimum wage views.

The protesters carried 4 four-foot-tall dia de los muertos skeletons, signifying Emmer's offensive positions on immigrants, GLBTQ people, and low income workers, as well as Target's corporate political contributions.

Related: Brandon Lacy Campos: Why Not To Boycott Target | Wednesday: Tell the Owners--Move the Game!read more

On the day that the controversial immigration law SB 1070 was introduced in Arizona, over a hundred people demonstrated in Holladay Park against the new law. Portland, Oregon, 29/07/2010

Originally the Act was signed into law by Governor of Arizona Jan Brewer on April 23rd 2010 and it came into effect today ninety days after the end of the legislative session. Shortened to either Arizona Senate Bill 1070 or SB 1070 it is otherwise known as the 'Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighbourhoods Act.'

Members of local collective B Media staged a 'Wedding of the Doomed' in front of the media and demonstrators to symbolise the marriage between the local law enforcement agencies and ICE (Immigration and customs enforcement). The marriage wouldn't have been right without some community intervention, which ended up stealing the show and standing up against the marriage of ICE and the Police.

On July 29th, a diverse showing of Santa Cruz, California residents rallied and marched in protest of Arizona's Senate Bill 1070, a legislative act that is said to be the broadest and strictest anti-immigrant measure in decades. The demonstrators proclaimed solidarity with all communities resisting SB 1070, a law they say scapegoats migrants, and also voiced outrage to local police and sheriffs working with the federal Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) within Santa Cruz County neighborhoods and jails.

July 29th Day Of Action Against SB1070

From Arizona Indymedia - On July 28th at about 10:00 a.m. Federal judge Susan Bolton issued a preliminary injunction against four provisions included in Arizona's anti-immigrant law, SB1070. These provisions include the mandate that law enforcement officers solicit the immigration status of anyone they encounter; the portion that makes failure to carry immigration documents a state crime; the portion that makes it a state crime for undocumented immigrants to perform work in Arizona; and the portion allowing for warrantless arrest of anybody who is suspected of having committed a "deportable offense". Judge Bolton's injunction is only temporary, which means that each of these provisions can still go into effect if the judge decides, after fully hearing the case, that they are acceptable.

Here in Los Angeles a large caravan of hundreds left for Arizona early this morning.

Saying that Meg Whitman's election would threaten their meal and rest breaks and put patient care in jeopardy, nurses protested in front of the Republican candidate's home on July 15th. Nurses decided to take to the streets in large numbers after Whitman mailed letters and fliers to nurses' homes telling them not to believe statements made by the California Nurses Association. The day of action started with over 1,100 people chanting in protest in front of Whitman's Atherton home and ended with a rally and speakers' event at Cañada College.

Visitors to downtown Buffalo spontaneously gathered Thursday evening at Roosevelt Plaza on the corner of Main and Huron. Some people had drums and guitars. Some enjoyed the public space with Hula-Hoops, and of course religious evangelists were present as they are every Thursday. In counterpoint, one man dressed as a prophet carrying a sandwich board reading "There is no God..."Another more political group set up a table and flag and gave out free booklets.

Ominously present were Law enforcement agencies from all over the region. Their SUVs needlessly blocked pedestrian traffic, and the domineering behavior of the officers made this tiny street festival less revitalizing for buffalo than it could have been.

While some police presence may still be needed Thursdays downtown, one must question the use of taxpayer dollars in sending the border patrol to protect us from girls with Hula-Hoops.

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The LAVA building and its many groups had an open house on Sunday, getting together with the neighborhood and playing some tunes and having some grilled hot dogs.

Arizona Snowbowl is attempting to expand development on the San Francisco Peaks and make fake snow out of treated sewage effluent on public lands. This wastewater has been proven to contain harmful contaminants such as pharmaceuticals, hormones and cancer causing agents.

The US Forest Service has ignored public health concerns and approved this development without any tests to determine the health effects if our children eat the wastewater snow. Snowbowl would be the only ski area in the world to use 100% wastewater to make snow. They would use 1.5 million gallons per day, storing and spraying this wastewater on a mountain that is holy to more than 13 Indigenous Nations.

On July 15 and 16 a series of actions will be held in Phoenix, in advance of a court hearing on July 20th. For the full schedule of events or for more information please visit Save the Peaks or contact phxrally@savethepeaks.org

Businesses, community groups, neighbors pledge not to allow police to check immigration status on their premises

Tucson, Arizona – On Thursday, July 8 No More Deaths and the Tierra y Libertad Organization unveiled twin grassroots campaigns against SB1070 entitled “We Reject Racism” and “We Mean Business”. More than 100 local and national volunteers have been mobilized to talk with to businesses, churches, and door-to-door outreach in neighborhoods, encouraging folks to speak out against and commit to non-cooperation with SB1070 and form networks of resistance and mutual aid with those most affected by the law. Already more than 135 local businesses and other institutions have posted a sign declaring opposition to SB1070, with many agreeing that law enforcement will not be allowed on their premises for the sole purpose of checking the immigration status of those within.

On June 22nd, disability right activists established a tent city they have named "Arnieville" on Adeline at Stewart Street in Berkeley. Arnieville is an ongoing tent city protesting the Governor's proposed cuts to In-Home Support Services (IHSS), which enables people to remain in their homes rather than be institutionalized. A similar protest was held at the same place in late May.

COSTA MESA, Monday June 14, 2010 – Recently, the Costa Mesa city council passed an ordinance declaring the city a "Rule of Law" city, a label they use to indicate their status as a city that is hostile to undocumented immigrants, unlike the "Sanctuary Cities" where the paperless can find refuge.

The Costa Mesa community has been battling its city council and its anti-immigrant mayor, Alan Mansoor, for years. Last week, Monday, immigrant rights activists engaged in civil disobedience to shut down a busy intersection for several hours in Costa Mesa. Activists set up a table in the middle of the intersection and chained themselves together around the table. A total of 12 immigrant rights activists were arrested as a result of this action. From the Newswire: The People Against The "Rule of Law" Of Costa Mesa City! Lady Madonna | | VIDEO: Costa Mesa action against the "Rule of Law" by NouvelleMaude

Related: DAY 10: NY RALLIES FOR IMMIGRANT YOUTH